Why it matters:
The U.S. decision to sanction Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, highlights growing tensions over international accountability for Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
What he's saying:
Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmail Baghaei took to the social platform X to condemn the sanctions, expressing full support for Albanese. He wrote, “Truth cannot be silenced with sanctions.”
Baghaei argued that Albanese is being targeted solely for speaking out against genocide, occupation, and apartheid.
He further noted the hypocrisy of the U.S. welcoming Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Washington, despite him being wanted by the International Criminal Court. “You are putting on a brazen display of hypocrisy, and the world is watching,” Baghaei said.
What they're saying:
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio announced that Francesca Albanese would be sanctioned for her reporting on Israel’s war in Gaza. He accused her of making “illegitimate and disgraceful efforts” to push the International Criminal Court to act against American and Israeli officials, companies, and executives. The move reflects Washington’s increasing resistance to international legal scrutiny of the Israeli regime’s genocide in Gaza.
Key points:
Iran’s Foreign Ministry emphasized Western hypocrisy, pointing to the U.S. welcoming Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, wanted by the International Criminal Court, while punishing a UN official for reporting on war crimes.
Go deeper:
Francesca Albanese has become a prominent figure in documenting human rights violations in Palestine, particularly during the ongoing Israeli genocide in Gaza. Her work has drawn fierce criticism from pro-Israel lobbies and Western officials but praise from rights organizations.
Israel Committing Cruellest Genocides in Modern History: UN Special Rapporteur
ahmad shirzadian
